CES 2014: Pebble Reveals New Premium Smartwatch, the Pebble Steel

LAS VEGAS—Pebble, definitively one of the most successful companies to have come out of Kickstarter, enjoyed massive success in 2013, putting 300,000 smartwatches on the wrists of wearable tech enthusiasts the world over. This year, at CES, the startup is aiming to match that triumph, coming out with a brand new, premium version of its now-beloved timekeeper: Pebble Steel.

The upgraded version boasts the same features that Pebble has confirmed was well-received in its first iteration: an e-paper display, 5- to 7-day battery life, and waterproof capabilities. But this package now comes in a thinner form factor, a noticeably smaller frame, and reduced borders. Also new is an RGB LED in the lower left corner of the newer version, which blinks red or green depending on the charging status. (Pebble states that third-party developers will be able to program this light for their own desired features later on.) Design-wise, Pebble Steel eschews the older colorful plastic design in favor of a more classic forged and CNC-machined stainless steel. Each watch also ships with a complimentary leather band for more aesthetic options. Pebble Steel comes in two colors: brushed stainless, and black matte.

More From Popular Mechanics

Additionally, the company is launching this third-party app store before the end of January, which will be the go-to destination for Pebble users to manage and install apps and watchfaces. Pebble explained that its iOS- and Android-compatible app store's interface was designed with easy browsing in mind, using simple categories like Daily Living, Games, Notifications, Utilities, Watchfaces, etc. It has even announced a number of impressive partners that will be onboard upon launch, which include Pandora, ESPN, and Mercedes-Benz. That's on top of its existing lineup of collaborators, with such big names as Yelp, Foursquare, GoPro and iControl.

Starting today, Pebble Steel can be pre-ordered from getpebble.com for $250; orders ship by January 28th.